Some examples:

References sources are a great starting point for research.  They provide quick, basic information.  Typical reference sources are encyclopedias, dictionaries, and atlases. Think Wikipedia without the worry.

Encyclopedias can be general and specific. 

General encyclopedias are multi-volume and have a broad content range.  Articles can range from archeology to zoology and anything in between.  Some examples:  World Book Encyclopedia, Encyclopædia Britannica.

Topic-specific encyclopedias have a narrow focus.  The results can include longer articles, profiles of lesser-known but relevant individuals, more details, and discussion of subtopics.  Examples include the Encyclopedia of the New American Nation, Encyclopedia of Rural America, Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy, and Abraham Lincoln Encyclopedia.

Use the Primo search box below to the search our electronic reference collection.

Some examples of individual reference ebooks from the above databases.